Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1887-11-23
For the Smyrna Times.
Washington Letter.


WASHINGTON, Nov. %, 1887.
BY actual count there are now seven
ty-tive Congressman at the Capital,
and the list is heightened on the ar
rival OF nearly every train. Among
the most prominent of the members |
have noticed on the Avenue that's
Pennsylvania avenue so called by all
WashingtOnians) Messrs. Voorhees,,
Harrison, Edmunds and Evarts. of the
Senate, and Messrs. Carlisle, Springer,
Breckenridge and Davenport. of the
House. Two other remarkable men
andDOtable figures who are often seen
on the streets are the Elk President of
the Senate and the President of the
Senate, John Sherman, and John J.
ingalls,. The stately form of the Ohio
senator Is seldom seen outside of his
carriage on the streets, while on the
other hand, the long, willowy figure of
the picturesque Kans8n can often be
seen mingling with the throngs that
frequent the thOrOughfares of this
beautiful city. If one wishes to catch a
glimpse occasionally of most of the ma
uonal solOns, the best place to take a
stand, IS outside of the Capitol itself. or
In the corridors of the different de-
partments, near the doors Of the Secre-
tary's Office. When common mortal
IKE you or |, dear rcaGer, would enter
the awe-inspiring presence Of IA Cabi-
net minister, the obliging door-keeper
always hands out a card, with blanks.
wherein We are required to state name
ana nature OF business, and send it in
Dy a messenger before there is the
slightest chance for admission but.
When member as they are popularity
known, appears, the door flies open as
II by magic by the time he is in six feet
Oft.
1t Is said that Mr. Carlisle, presum.
ing on his election as Speaker, which
nobody doubts, is casting about for
suitable proper material for Congress
slonal cOmmittees-a task that will
tax the great TACT and skill of the Ken
lucky statesman to accomplish salts
fdctorily, as there are a hundred or
more new men to place-a great num-
oer Oh the ablest and most experienced
congressman, having been relegated to
lhe peaceful walks Of private life.
AS loreshadowed in my last letter.
the designation of Commissioner of the
Land Office Sparks has taken place
the President letting down the AFRO
CANT and rchelliouS official as easily as
possible This was the only way. ont.
Slde OF a peremptory dismissal. TO
properly rcbuke the persistent in
subordinatiOp of the irascibIe Tlinoian
VINO constantly deported himself in of
nee as II he was lord Of all he SURVEYED.
1t Is the gossip of the hotel and de-
partmental corridors that some opDosi
u"n Is developing to the confirmation
OF secretary L1mar's probable nomina-
uon to the Supreme Bench. chiefly on
account OF his advanced age-he is en-
lGrihg his G3rd Ncar-and it appears
mat TINS feeling is by no means con
hned to his political opponents. There
i disposition on the part Of scv-rl'
RepubLcan Senators to raise a sectional
cutlery against the Secretary on ac-
count Of his having within the mast
iour years champioued the civil chief
tam OF the Southern Confederary. ON
the floor OF the United States Senate
1t Is broadly intimated that the Su-
Preme Court is equally divided on the
issue of the prohibition cases from
Iowa, Kansas and Georgia, and that
the new Justice will have to cast the
deciding votc-it now stands four to
iour-nine being full bench.
In the celebrated drive well ease
the Supreme Court has recently rem
dered a decision against the patentee.
VINO claims "A royalty often dollars |
each on all the Griyen wells in the
United States--the number being esti- |
mated at three millions.
The deficiencies for the transporta-
ton of the mails amounted to from |
eight to fifteen million dollars per an.
mum few years since; but these deficits
have been gradually reduced until
they are now do more than million a
year-so that by the end of the pres
ent year the POstofIice Department
promises to be on a selr-sustaining
basis.
Assistant Commissioner of Patents
Gen. Robert B. Vance, of N. c.. a
brother Ex-senator Vance, is acting as
Commissioner of Patents during the
absence Of Mr.. Hall, and he makes an
efficient official, being both afiable and
popular, and fully equipped, by nat
Iral ability and by his experience in
Congress IS chairman of the committe
ON patents, ably to discharge the respon-
'ible duties deyolving upon him.